omalleycat215

@faint I think that it's closest equivalent is the Dynasty Warriors series. Both focus heavily on characters from literature well known in one country but relatively unknown in the other. That said, I think that Dynasty Warriors has done far better in the West than Steam has done in the East. Bad sales week might be the problem. Give it a month to see how bad (or good) it has done overall.

@Quorthon When I was a kid, I didn't think of a system as a Nintendo box or a games console. It was always a games console. I treated my N64, GC, and Wii as games consoles. After picking up the PS3, I realized the distinction between a Nintendo box and a games console. For the last 10 years or so, the Nintendo console has essentially been a Nintendo box (filled with Nintendo games and not much else). Third party support has been awful on Nintendo home consoles for a while. The support is much better on Nintendo's handhelds, hence why I have a 3dsxl but not a WiiU. The other home consoles have had far better third party support, so I've stuck with them as the home games console.

@Quorthon A lot of indie games are included in Playstation Plus for free, especially on PS4. Many bloggers complained in the past about how basically ALL indie games were ending up on Plus (hyperbole, but true to an extent. Most of the value I put into the services rest in their respective virtual consoles. Nintendo has a good virtual console, but it doesn't support it as well as it should. The same can be said for PSN, but its catalog is a bit more robust. Nintendo wins as far as backwards support is concerned (no PS3 support on PS4), and HD remasters tend to be a tad pricy.
PSN wins the Discount category though. I can still remember when the eshop first started offering discounts (not long ago). With PS+, there are A LOT of discount frequently. The Flash sales (especially the $1 ones) are amazing. Nintendo and its eshop tend to only have discounts for 3 party titles (many of questionable game quality).
Sorry to gush. I like Nintendo's eshop, but it has been a tad lackluster by comparison. Don't have much of a problem buying indie titles IF they are good (bought Shovel Knight and Azure Striker Gunvolt Day 1). FYI, only have a nn3dsxl (no wiiU).

Value is important. The value (quality- wise) of games on the e-shop are generally lower than the quality of games on basically every other service. Every other service tends to give more for less money. As a consumer, every other service gives me better games for less money (specifically PSN). I like Nintendo and the third party games available on their consoles, but the difference in quality is stark and very noticeable.

YES.

@JaxonH I had the same experience with Personas 3 and 4, Final Fantasy X, Skyrim, and The World Ends With You. It is an RPG experience, through and through.

@MegaBeedrill From what I've played (about 3 hours worth), Xenoblade involves a lot of walking. Both it and Elder Scrolls have fast travel, but handle it in different ways. XB does not slow down after fast travel due to processing, unlike ES. In fact, XB seems far more stable than most ES games (no crashing, slowdown, lag whatsoever). Some ES games to enable fast travel to certain locations or means to get to important areas quickly (via medieval taxi). Xenoblade forces you to go to areas before fast travel is provided, so it is worse than ES in a way. Difference between a linear JRPG with a big world and an open ended WRPG with an open world, I guess.

@Ninty4thewin I concur. Love to see a flagship game, even if it is a port.

@shredmeister Better 50 copies than none. Missed my chance with the wii version, so picked it up day one. The availability and necessity of the n3dsxl is probably the cause for excess copies. Glad I picked it up.

Triple speed feels great. Definitely cuts down the wait time.

Shantae all the way.

I am definitely getting Liberation Maiden vibes from this. Not sure if better, though.

@Shyguyanonymous YES.

Currently, the site seems to be "under maintenance". Might wait a day or two.
When it comes back, probably getting either yoshi 3ds or ultimate nes remix (no wii u).

@Funbunz I got the PQ wild card edition back in November. The price was most likely for the game case. As for the game, it's good. It is sort of a fanservice game for P3/P4 fans. The gameplay and music are pretty solid. So far, I'm through 3 of the 5 dungeons. The gameplay uses a variant of the press turn system, which means that learning how to exploit the system was a big chunk of the game. The 2 free DLC characters have awesome techniques that can only be used when exploiting the system. Although the 2 characters are relatively low level, I just stuck to using them once I could clear the level requirement. It made the bosses pretty easy. PQ is a grindy game, so it really depends on if you like that sort of thing.
As for SMTIV,the guide really helped me with navigating Tokyo. The complex/ confusing map system exists in SMTIII and SMT:DS:SH, so it is sort of a hallmark of the mainline series. The persona series is ridiculously streamlined mapwise in comparison.

@Funbunz The Persona Q soundtrack had only 4 songs on it, which was even worse. The CD was only available in The Wild Cards Special Edition for 80 bucks, so it was VERY disappointing (although it did have the full Maze of Life song, which was cool).
The art book for SMTIV was actually pretty good (in the USA anyways). It was better as a strategy guide than as an artbook.

Video removed? Suspicious. If Smash DLC is on the horizon, I wouldn't be against adding Rayman to the roster. Simon Belmont would be good as well. Having the full Captain N team in the game would be sweet.

Hope this come to NA. In fact, I would like it if any soundtrack came to Club Nintendo NA. Got the Majora's Mask CD a while back, and I would't mind a few more.

Already preordered Steam at GameStop. Have to look into how this will be distributed ( if it is indeed valid ).

So, any year end rewards for those who reached gold or platinum?
Anyways, Club Nintendo(NA) has been on the decline for a while now. Not suprising, considering the lack of rewards overall. Platinum has not been so good, but the 2013 LoZ: MM soundtrack (how appropriate now with the 3ds release!) was nice. The real reward for platinum members have been the special demos in the last few months. Now that the program is being phased out, I'll probably be signing up for the forthcoming loyalty program. I do hope that there are a few more special demos in the next few months. Perhaps Code Name: Steam, Zelda Wii U, and Xenoblade Chronicles X might be the next ones?

Excited to finally have some use for the amiibos. Never bought a Wii U, but getting the NN3DSXL in February. The amiibo support for Code Name: Steam seems like the best right now. Having Lucina and Robin fight alongside steampunk fighters in another strategy game is pretty cool. Support for Smash 3ds also seems pretty good, but nothing compared to CN:S.

Don't have a Wii U, so I'm most excited for Xenoblade Chronicles 3D. Also excited about LoZ:MM3D, but not as much. Played the original a lot, so I know what I'm getting into. Never got to play the original XC, so interested in experiencing it.

@rjejr The Pokemon Snap idea is genius! Definitely could see that happening. Like many, I have fond memories of Pokemon Snap for the n64. It should be revisited on the Wii U, 3ds, or both.

@Ralek85 Shooting themselves in the foot is well near the business philosophy of Nintendo, and has been for a very long time. (Not hating on Nintendo, btw. I love their products, but they have made many bad decisions in the past that can't be overlooked.)

Anyone think there is a chance of a new 2ds in the near future?

The choice between the two models is difficult. I've had both a normal 3ds and a 3dsxl. I was fine with the original, but the xl model ultimately won me over. A larger screen just feels better when playing Nintendo games. When comparing the two, the original's screen is so puny by comparison. For me, the original xl wins over the original 3ds.
The choice between the two new models is less objective, imho. I love the larger screen of the new xl, but I also like the removable plates of the new 3ds. I don't know why Nintendo kept the removable plates to the new 3ds but not the xl. Having removable plates for both just seems ideal to me. Considering that one must unscrew and remove the back of the new xl to change the sd card, a concern over possible damage to the console through fiddling with the back and front seems unfounded. I don't know. It seems like a confounding design decision to me.
Anyways, NA only gets the new xl, so the decision on what model I get has ultimately been made for me.

Seems like it will be just like other console rpg ports to the system (such as Tales of the Abyss 3D). Of course, Xenoblade Chronicles is amazing, so i'll be piccking it up soon.

@Falchion Someone, somewhere out there will bite unfortunately. Still have the LoZ:MM n64 cartridge after all these years, and its definitely not worth whatever ebay would charge for it.

@rjejr Not as crazy as the Smash Bros demo post. That was over 1000.

@Spartacus3765 I know right! I wish Nintendo was still a toy company in a way. One branch makes the games, the other makes toys (other than pokemon ones!) based on the games. The real draw of LoZ:MMce (for me at least) is the Skull Kid figure. I've played Majora's Mask several times to completion, so i am familiar with the software. Being denied the figure by rotten luck (and Nintendo scalpers) hurts so much. If Nintendo released toys and figures from their games (other than pokemon and amiibo, which are elusive in their own right), I wouldn't be so annoyed.

The scalpers strike again! (I really wanted a Majora's Mask n3dsxl. Since NA is not getting the removable face plate models, they should AT LEAST stock enough of the special variant xls. Its as if the scalpers are saying "Have a rotten day!" to me. What rotten luck!)

No skin off my bones. Fan of the xl model, so this is a natural (and welcome) upgrade.

@PanzHunter Thanks for the understanding. I've distributed codes for smash and codes for MH4U. If I stay platinum (likely right now) and I get codes in the future (I hope), I will definitely distribute them through NintendoLife. NEVER SELL FREE DEMO CODES THROUGH EBAY FOR ANY SORT OF PRICE. (Sorry. The Nintendo scalpers have been VERY active for the last few months. This has become something of a gut reaction.)

@PanzHunter Sorry man. Ran out 40 minutes ago. Left, came back, and chose 3 people at random (used one code myself before coming here). If Nintendo does anything like this in the future (and they likely will at this rate) and I have some codes lying around, I'll be sure to give you one.

@REDJAYKID So someone has an original 3ds, a 3dsxl, a 2DS, AND a NN3dsxl lying around? (Obvious sarcasm, sorry. I just realized that there are enough models of the 3ds to use all four codes. Maybe Nintendo is just being thoughtful after all.)(another joke)

@Navy Spheal Ever heard of Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes? It sold for $30-40 when it was released. (Mandatory reminder of MGS:GZ. Not a knock on the demo itself, but its price.)

@Savior Believe me, this is nothing compared to Smash Bros. (the traffic and demand I mean). I had some codes back then and it was utter chaos. I think the # of posts at around this time was past 700 at this point. Of course, Smash was such a big deal. I nearly became intoxicated with joy when I got my codes. Point is, I suggest the email method to avoid mass disappointment. Better for three people to definitely get the codes than for hundreds to be soo close to getting the same number of codes.

PSA: it is better to email codes individually to select people rather than simply post them up first come first serve basis. It is better for everyone involved.

@blackbeltbap That's the spirit!

Fresh out everyone.

@captaincatbutt Can you enter the complete email adress?

@captaincatbutt Sure. Give me your email.

@blackbeltbap still need a code?

Sorry. Just a minute. Something came up.

Got the email myself. Three NA codes to give out. Just ask.

@hylian-pudding Might be under "Other or N/A".

Just now did I realize how long the abbreviations for ce consoles are getting. So much for abbreviations! Some of them are longer than most words!

@GodOfPie The rub is that the mh4u nn3dsxl doesn't include all of the stuff included in the mh4u collector's edition. Normally, I would pick up the mh4u nn3dsxl, but the extras in the collector's edition are very appetizing (the figure!). Actually, the mh4uce figure might be of higher quality than the Skull Kid figure included in the LoZ:MMce. Mh4uce also comes in an awesome box (how cool would it be if LoZ:MMce came with a Zelda chest replica? The thought just kills me!). All I'm saying is that the mh4uce is a little too good for me to pass up. Also, one ce is still available, the other is not. Food for thought. (Sorry for the long post and seemingly shilling for mh4uce. Been getting into ce's (PQ: SotL for one). Would love an awesome(r) Zelda ce.)
Anyways, thinking of getting the standard nn3dsxl at this rate. Probably my only option with the scalping going on now.

Hope it lasts longer than it did in NA. Those went way too fast.

@Spartacus3765 yeah I hear ya. Anything special from Nintendo sells out way too quickly these days. Not great for casual consumers.